Backlight assembly and display device having the same

Abstract

A backlight assembly includes a flat fluorescent lamp and a bottom chassis. The flat fluorescent lamp includes a first substrate, a second substrate and an external electrode. The second substrate is combined with the first substrate to form a plurality of discharge spaces. The external electrode crosses the discharge spaces. The bottom chassis receives the flat fluorescent lamp and includes a protruded portion spaced apart from the flat fluorescent lamp by a distance that is different from a distance between a remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp.

1 . A backlight assembly comprising:
 a flat fluorescent lamp including:
 a first substrate; 
 a second substrate combined with the first substrate and forming a plurality of discharge spaces; and 
 an external electrode crossing the discharge spaces; and 
   a bottom chassis receiving the flat fluorescent lamp and including a protruded portion spaced apart from the flat fluorescent lamp by a distance that is different from a distance between a remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp.   
   
   
       2 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruded portion comprises a first external protrusion protruded toward an exterior of the bottom chassis and a distance between the first external protrusion and the flat fluorescent lamp is greater than the distance between the remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       3 . The backlight assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first external protrusion corresponds to a lower portion of the flat fluorescent lamp when the flat fluorescent lamp is aligned substantially vertical. 
   
   
       4 . The backlight assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first external protrusion corresponds to five discharge spaces corresponding to the lower portion of the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       5 . The backlight assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the distance between the first external protrusion and the flat fluorescent lamp is increased as a distance from a lower portion of the flat fluorescent lamp is decreased. 
   
   
       6 . The backlight assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the protruded portion further comprises a second external protrusion corresponding to an upper portion of the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       7 . The backlight assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second external protrusion corresponds to uppermost discharge spaces on the upper portion of the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       8 . The backlight assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the distance between the second external protrusion and the flat fluorescent lamp is increased, as a distance from an upper portion of the flat fluorescent lamp is decreased. 
   
   
       9 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruded portion comprises an internal protruded portion protruded toward an interior of the bottom chassis and a distance between the internal protrusion and the flat fluorescent lamp is smaller than the distance between the remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       10 . The backlight assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the internal protruded portion corresponds to a central portion of the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       11 . The backlight assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a power supply printed circuit board disposed at a rear surface of the bottom chassis, wherein the internal protruded portion corresponds to the power supply printed circuit board. 
   
   
       12 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruded portion comprises:
 an external protruded portion protruded toward an exterior of the bottom chassis and a distance between the external protruded portion and the flat fluorescent lamp is greater than the distance between the remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp; and   an internal protruded portion protruded toward an interior of the bottom chassis and a distance between the internal protruded portion and the flat fluorescent lamp is smaller than the distance between the remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp.   
   
   
       13 . The backlight assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a power supply printed circuit board disposed at a rear surface of the bottom chassis, wherein the internal protruded portion corresponds to the power supply printed circuit board. 
   
   
       14 . The backlight assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the external protruded portion comprises a first external protrusion corresponding to a lower portion of the flat fluorescent lamp when the flat fluorescent lamp is aligned substantially vertical. 
   
   
       15 . The backlight assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the external protruded portion comprises a second external protrusion corresponding to an upper portion of the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       16 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second substrate comprises:
 a plurality of discharge portions spaced apart from the first substrate and forming the discharge spaces;   a plurality of non-discharge portions making contact with the first substrate between adjacent discharge portions; and   a sealing portion on a peripheral portion surrounding the discharge portions and the non-discharge portions, the first substrate being combined with the second substrate through the sealing portion.   
   
   
       17 . The backlight assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer member interposed between the flat fluorescent lamp and the bottom chassis so that the flat fluorescent lamp is spaced apart from the bottom chassis. 
   
   
       18 . A display device comprising:
 a backlight assembly generating light, the backlight assembly including:   a flat fluorescent lamp including a first substrate, a second substrate combined with the first substrate and forming a plurality of discharge spaces and an external electrode crossing the discharge spaces; and   a bottom chassis receiving the flat fluorescent lamp and including an external protruded portion spaced apart from the flat fluorescent lamp by a distance that is greater than a distance between a remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp; and   a display unit displaying images based on the light generated from the backlight assembly.   
   
   
       19 . The display device of  claim 18 , wherein the external protruded portion comprises a first external protrusion corresponding to a lower portion of the flat fluorescent lamp when the flat fluorescent lamp is aligned substantially vertical. 
   
   
       20 . The display device of  claim 19 , wherein the external protruded portion comprises a second external protrusion corresponding to an upper portion of the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       21 . The display device of  claim 18 , wherein the bottom chassis comprises an internal protruded portion protruded toward an interior of the bottom chassis and a distance between the internal protruded portion and the flat fluorescent lamp is smaller than the distance between the remaining portion of the bottom chassis and the flat fluorescent lamp. 
   
   
       22 . The display device of  claim 21 , further comprising a power supply printed circuit board disposed at a rear surface of the bottom chassis, wherein the internal protruded portion corresponds to the power supply printed circuit board.